I’ve been a loyal shopper at Madewell for years, but over time, my experience, especially at the Perimeter Mall location, has become increasingly uncomfortable and disheartening.
As a person of color, I’ve noticed a pattern of dismissive and, frankly, discriminatory behavior when interacting with certain staff members, particularly white employees. On my most recent visit on 7/27/2025, I was accompanied by my daughters and encountered yet another disappointing situation.
While waiting for a fitting room, a white employee assisted other customers by asking for their names, yet when it came to me, she simply wrote a number next to my items without any acknowledgment. After trying on the clothes, she didn’t ask if I needed help with sizing or if I liked any of the items she just walked off and continued helping other customers.
Later, my daughter was ready to check out with a few items, but the associate at the register walked away without saying anything. We waited for about five minutes. Then, another customer bypassed us, and the same employee from the fitting room quickly assisted that person, despite making eye contact with us before looking away. At that point, we returned our items and left the store.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. We've experienced similar treatment multiple times, typically from white employees. We’ve been met with eye rolls when asking for assistance, loud sighs when requesting sizes, and side-eyes upon entering the store. In contrast, when helped by employees of color, our experiences have always been welcoming and positive.
It’s 2025. It should not be too much to expect equal treatment and respectful service regardless of the customer’s race. I urge Madewell to address this issue seriously and ensure your staff is trained to treat *all* customers with dignity and professionalism.